April Showers...(the bridal kind)

Spring has FINALLY made its appearance here in Boise...and you know what that means bombshells? Showers. Lots of showers. I am not talking rain ladies, although we've seen some of that too, I am talking bridal showers.

With my cousin's upcoming wedding, I've been going on all kinds of wedding adventures. From the Boise Bridal Show back in January, to shopping gift registries, picking out my wedding attire and attending the bridal shower, this BoiseBombshell is in full wedding mode. As I have previously mentioned, I-LOVE-WEDDINGS (seriously, a lot...no really you have no idea)!!! I'd get married every year (to the same man of course)...if it wasn't so expensive and time consuming :-) I guess one wedding is enough, I shouldn't be so greedy, but I totally would if I could.

Not only doing weddings mean you get to drink mimosas on Saturday mornings and swoon over being in love, they also mean you get to showcase a variety of ensembles for all types of wedding-related events. You have engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette parties...the list goes on.

Here is my bridal shower attire for last Saturday's event:

Jacket: Target (it's starting to fall apart, but I just love it so much, I am not ready to part with it yet) 

Dress: Forever21 Tights: Hand-me-down

Belt: Forever21 (Side Note: I did have a super-cute brown clutch, but it missed its photo op)

Cuff: Forever21

Fringe Boots: Forever21

I'll admit that I was a little nervous about purchasing this dress, in the beginning. I was worried it was too trendy and much too short in the front, but I;ve'grown to love it. By customizing it with different accessories, I even pulled it off for Easter Sunday last month:

Belt & Cardigan: Banana Republic

Telling Oscar to stop stealing my spotlight

Shoes: Target

Stay tuned bombshells. I still have a bachelorette party, the actual wedding itself and a post-wedding lunch to attend. Lots of outfits to wear, lots of love to soak in. Aren't April Showers the best!?!

Be Bold,

Be Brave,

Be Beautiful,

The BoiseBombshell

Coastal Crazed Fashion

Recently, my husband and I were lucky enough to head to Santa Cruz, California for a weekend getaway. The trip was through my work. Every 2 years, the owners pay for all the employees to go on a weekend trip and participate in a race, AMAZING! Previous trips include British Columbia, Arizona and Napa Valley...really bummed I wasn't there for the last one ;-)

It wasn't all play thought. We participated in a 1/2 marathon (well, Corey did...I did a 10K which is 6.2miles).  Even though I only did the 10k, I am definitely proud of myself, since I can never run over 3 miles at a time (regardless of how hard I train). I finished the race in barely over one hour (I would've finished in less than an hour, but I got a little confused at the finish line haha).

More important than my minute athletic accomplishments, is the fashion that came with my Santa Cruz trip. The ocean, the boardwalk, the endless palm trees were just what I needed to inspire my spring wardrobe. Lots of pastels, whites and bold accessories.

Departure Outfit: Pants (Banana),  Flats (Urban Outfitters), Top/Jacket (DownEast Basics), Necklace (Forever21) 

Necklace: Forever21 (about $8)

On the plan (finally). It only took 1 cancelled flight,  5 hours stuck in the Boise airport, a rerouted delayed flight to San Fran, a poker game and drinks before 11am and a final boarding...yikes!

As soon as we arrived at the hotel we rushed and got ready for a semi-formal dinner.  No time for showering ladies, it was a makeup touch-up and outfit change only. After seeing the pictures, I am a little disappointed by the fit of the dress. I now call it the "saggy-boob-dress" (sad, but true). My apologies for my horrific posture. Oy-Vay!

Dress: Forever21 (about $20), Necklace: gift from my sister-in-law

 Our office picture, post-race. Don't mind the sweaty, tired looks and the treacherous green tops. :-) I love this group. I'm so blessed to work for such an incredible office!

Downtown Santa Cruz

Hotel Pool

My boardwalk attire:

Pants: Gap, Sandals: Target, Top: Forever21 ($10) 

Necklace: "Bombshell" a gift from Silverado (from my older sister and her boyfriend), Watch: Target (gift from my mother-in-law), Ring: Forever21

LOVE the buttons up the back!!!

Our Hotel 

Spring is alive in CA - Birds of Paradise were everywhere

I want a backyard full of palm trees!

Hotel View

On the way back to Boise, I bundled up because it was freezing at home. My airport arrival attire:

Hat: Wet Seal, Glasses: Kate Spade, Jacket: Target, Jeans: Banana, Shoes: Sloan Boutique in Portland ($12) 

Sweater: DownEast Basics

Hope these pictures leave you inspired and ready to dress for spring. Hopefully it'll warm up soon!

Be Bold,

Be Brave,

Be Beautiful,

The BoiseBombshell 

Now Trending: Clear Clutches

The overall concept of a clear clutch doesn't make much sense. Isn't the purpose of a bag to hide all the stuff inside? With the clear clutch trend you definitely have to make sure you keep the contents of your clutch well organized or insert a wristlet to hide your stuff. Although this trend might not be practical for everyday use, it certainly makes a statement.

Charlotte Olympia Clear Clutch & Wristlets

Charlotte Olympia Clear Clutch w/ Insert

Stella McCartney Clear Clutch (love the angles on this one! looks like an emerald cut gem)

Gucci Clear Clutch (love the geometric detailing)

Charlotte Olympia Clear Blue Clutch

Charlotte Olympia Clear Clutch w/ Gold Accents (love the signature spider detail)

What do you think bombshells? Love it or hate it? I think the trend works for the spring and summer season. It's light and airy. If paired with the right ensemble, I feel the clear clutch could be a ultra modern statement piece. I just might try this trend for spring :-)

Be Bold,

Be Brave,

Be Beautiful,

The BoiseBombshell

2013 Grammy Awards - A Fashion Recap

The Grammy's are by far the most entertaining award show of the season. I love the Grammy's because it brings a variety of celebrities together: Elton John, Katy Perry, Adele, Carrie Underwood, LL Cool J...all under one roof (granted it is a very large roof: the L.A. Staples Center).

This year's Grammy Awards had some fun special effects including the lighting on Carrie Underwood's performance gown and Frank Ocean's digital piano screen. I loved the strings of lights hanging throughout the Staples Center, it made it feel so homey in that massive arena.

BoiseBombshell's Best Performances:

Frank Ocean

Carrie Underwood

Elton John & Ed Sheeran

Alicia Keys & Maroon 5 - I LOVE her "Girl on Fire" song, so empowering!

Rihanna - she just impressed me overall tonight, incredible vocal performance and she knocked me off my feet with her sheer red gown

BoiseBombshell's Worst Performances:

Taylor Swift - she always has so much going on during her performances, it's so distracting. What does the circus and Alice in Wonderland have to do with breaking up. Oh Taylor we are never getting back together... like ever.

BoiseBombshell's Best Dressed (I feel this list gets smaller every award show):

Carrie Underwood- I am seeing her in concert in 1 week!!! I LOVE this dress, but I think she should've done a different necklace, maybe black diamonds.

Rihanna in Azzedine Alaia- I was impressed by the tastefulness of her floor-length gown. She kept it age-relevant by having sheer cutouts on the front. See it on the E!News Glam Cam here. I've never seen her look so stunning.

Rihanna

 Jordyn Grohl- loves the graphic print, a major spring trend represented well by Louis Vuitton this season, her simple simplistic approach with a pop of color in her earrings was perfect. I didn't like her platform chunky shoes though...

Kimbra- I don't want to love it, but something about this whole look...she's like a brunette tinkerbell, it's so whimsical I just can't help it, it's a fun-flirty-fairytale dress. I think it only works because it's the Grammy's.

BoiseBombshell's Maybes:

Miranda Lambert - I loved the dress it was very flattering on her and the color was so rich, but the cuffs and the clutch and the earrings were too much. She should've either pulled back her hair and only worn the earrings or leave her hair down and only where a tear drop pendant.

Faith Hill- I like how she represented this season's new sheer trend in a edgy, yet classic way. I didn't like the earrings. She should've worn a small metallic stud. The dress was perfect, but the shoes were all wrong. She should've done a metallic chunky-strap heel, not a workday patent leather pump.

BoiseBombshell's No-Nos:

Taylor Swift - the Greek goddess look is so not in and the girl needs to embrace her pale skin and the fact white is cannot be her color and I think she's starting to get a little too thin...

Adele - this dress in very unflattering on her fabulously curvy figure, I'm sorry Valentino but what were you thinking, and the matching shoes..noway

Jennifer Lopez - the fabric is cheap, the asymmetrical sleeve it out and again ladies the one leg thing was a one-time red carpet wonder pulled off by Angelina Jolie and only Angelina Jolie

Beyonce- She could wear anything, the girl is amazing, but I wasn't a big fan of her outfit of choice.  I don't like the middle part in her hair, not a fan of pony tails at award shows. The dual bangle kills me, just pick an arm.

Katy Perry in Gucci- Although she has a great body in this dress, it was just a tacky overall look. Too much chest, tasteless embellishments and not a good color (would've been better in navy or black). The front keyhole trend is out.

Giuliana Rancic - I'm sorry G, I adore you, but this dress is terrible. It's not fitted right to you petite frame and the color is not for you. I still love you, promise!!!

Boise Bombshell's "What-in-the-world!":

Carrie Underwood's Nails - they looked cheap against her diamond necklace and designer gown

Janelle Monae- she looks like a Spanish matador

Ashanti - Yes that is her underwear you are seeing through her gown...girl please, this is a red carpet!

Florence Welch in Givenchy - The Loch Ness Monster/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. She always makes herself look so old, she's only 26. Carly Rae Jepsen who looks a decade younger, yet she's actually a year older than Florence Welch.

Esperanza Spalding- No to everything but the metallic belt. 

BoiseBombshell's Bad Boys (not in a good way):

Jack White - He creeps me out, he looks dead. Hated how the blues in his hat and his pocket handkerchief weren't in the same hue of blue.

Mario Lopez- A maroon suit? Need I say more.

Frank Ocean - His top looked like a cardigan/scrubs

Jay Manuel from America's Next Top Model...there are no words for this suit

Chris Brown- He makes me cringe

BoiseBombshell's Notes:

• Nicole Kidman needs to wears her hair some other way, we're all over the stick straight locks

Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban at the Grammy's

• Kelly Clarkson & Faith Hill - twinzies with the black knee length sheer trend looks

Faith Hill

Kelly Clarkson

• Not a fan of the pointed acrylic nail trend, worn by Adele and Rihanna at the Grammy's

Rihanna with pointed acrylic nails

Overall it was an entertaining night. Next Sunday I will be busy getting blown away by Carrie Underwood in concert here in Boise!!! I can't wait! Get the details here.

Be Bold, 

Be Brave,

Be Beautiful,

The BoiseBombshell